Busy, Busy

First I want to thank everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday last Monday.  Between my blog, Facebook, and family I really felt the love.  And I won’t count out Margie’s Sew Much Fun (read LQS). 

Margie gives her customers a significant discount during their birthday month (once).  I am old enough to have reached her ceiling discount so I took full advantage of it.

 

I visited the extensive batik section and this is what I got.  I tried to focus on lights and brights because I already have several darks.  But you can see that one dark snuck in there.  It is a wood grain and I just couldn’t pass it by.  Also on the table is a wool roving pincushion.  I have one and love it so now another machine will have one, too.

 

 

And for fun I bought these earrings.  Now I just need to get something purple to go with them.

 

 

On the sewing front, I have been busy.

Today I had three machines going.  Here you can see one embroidering a label for Autumn  Breeze, also pictured.

 

 

 

While that was going on I was at my straight stitch machine putting the binding on.  Then I used another machine to prep the label so it could be sewn into the binding.  I just have a little hand stitching to do on the label, tonight’s project, and it will be done.  Then tomorrow I hope to get back to my table runner so I can get it on the table to start December.

Design Wall Accomplishments

 

This is my very first table runner.  The picture was taken Sunday evening, after the sun went down, so the color is somewhat strange: the bottom square is close to true.  Anyway the runner is 56” long and 14” wide.  I am using 2 swap blocks (tan) and 2  new blocks made like the ones I sent for a Christmas swap.  I hope to get this quilted this week so it will be ready for our table right after Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before I can start quilting the table runner I need to finish quilting this swap block quilt.  (Does it seem I am swap block obsessed?) 

 

My original plan was to practice some ruler work while doing this quilt but then I realized that I needed to get it done quickly so I could do the runner so a medium meander seemed like the best way to go.

 

Here is the backing I chose.  It is in the center with a border fabric on the sides (not shown).  I love this fabric and did when I first saw it in the shop so I hated to use it for a backing fabric.

 

However, it was perfect for this quilt so here it is.  I have about 3 more passes to complete the quilting.  I have been having a little trouble: my stitch regulator is not working very well.  I will probably be calling HQ later today to see if they have any ideas why it is “dragging” and/or falling out of regulation all together.  I can get pretty regular stitches unregulated but I really like not having to work at keeping my speed steady.

One last thing:  today I found a top from a BOM in 2007.  It is the second top I ever made.  I haven’t unfolded it yet but I believe it is a king/queen sized and the original plan was to make a duvet cover.  I remember I bought two king sized sheets to complete the task but then put it aside.  I think the next thing I will be doing is seeing if I can find all the parts and get this UFO underway.  If I do I think I will have all my swaps and BOMs either completed and/or ready for quilting.  Maybe I’ll even have it out so I can show it next Monday  Yea!!

Don’t forget to go over the Patchwork Times to see what other’s are creating.

Busy Week

Now I know that you all have not been waiting with baited breath to learn that we got our 3D TV butI’m going to share anyway.

We had already moved the old TV off of the high shelf and onto the table where the new one would be going. Here you see the old one being disconnected from the amp, blu ray, Direct TV, and DVR. And the new TV is in the big box. Look what a mess we had.

Even the antique cradle wasn’t spared the involvement in the mess.

And here we are with the new TV up and running. Unfortunately we couldn’t hook
up the studio sound system because the amp is not new enough to connect to the
TV. So Sunday was taken up with a trip to Best Buy. Little by little we will
have the full theater experience. Fun, fun.

Even with all this excitement I did get a little sewing done. The design ironing board has the layout of the Christmas table runner I am making for our new dining table. I made more of the swap blocks I had on the wall last week and paired them with two of the swap blocks I have been trying to make a quilt with. I like the contrast (thanks for the comments last week) and then added some applique mittens in the middle. These are not sewn together yet, that had been part of the plan for Sunday, before the trip to Best Buy.

Friday I did get this quilt on the HQ. I am still debating if I will quilt it with a meander or practice some ruler work on it.

I am going to again share how much I love my Red Snappers. It took me all of 10
min. to load the backing of this quilt. It wouldn’t have taken that long except
that my studio doesn’t have central heat and it was cold (48F outside) so the
plastic was a little harder than usual.

Here is the bobbin thread.

and I am still trying to decide what thread to use on the top.

Meanwhile, DH and I shared one of our favorite meals. Look have excited he was
when it was delivered to our table.

This is a taco pizza from Pizza Hut. It is so very good and we love it.

And now it is time for all of us to go to Patchwork Times and see all of the creations in process. Each week I try to check in on all the blogs that are posted there cuz it gives me such inspiration. But to not get bogged down by being on the computer for too long at a time, I read them in 10 blog bunches. Most of the time I get all the
way through by the end of the week: sometimes I don’t, but I try. There are
some very creative and artistic people out there and I don’t like to miss what
they are creating.

Blank Design Wall

So today I am sharing three things: my newest creation using the My Memories software (giveaway coming next  week), the above completed quilt top, and further down the quilting I am currently doing on my batik Underground Railroad quilt.

First, I really am enjoying the above software.  I am beginning to be more creative in how I document the process of making my quilt tops as well as the backing and quilting ideas.  For each project one creates an album in the software so it is set up to be able to have several pages with both pictures and “journaling” which I call words.  I have several earlier pictures of this top in process so will add those to the “album” and hopefully will have a finished product by the time this quilt is quilted.  Then, as I have just begun working on some Christmas gift ideas, I also plan to start albums for them which I can’t show you since occasionally family members read this blog.    I will, sometime this week, begin working on a label for this quilt and we will see if the software will allow us to be more creative in this area also.

 

Quilting on the Underground Railroad is coming along nicely.  As of last evening I have completed a little over half of the quilt.  I am quilting it lengthwise, 107”, so it takes me quite a while to do one pass. 

 

This is the pantograph I am using.  It is somewhat complicated as there are several switchbacks.  Just about the time you think you are moving along toward the end, the thing takes you back in the direction you came from. 

 

I really like how the teal thread looks on the different fabrics.  I use a poly thread so it shines on the darker fabrics and blends or shows off on the lighter fabrics.

 

This is the panto I am using.  I found it at a guild sale table at a quilt show ($1) and I really like how it looks on my quilt.

 

 

And what is this, you might ask.  Well, this is the stage set for Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain.  We went to see him Saturday night.  We were not allowed to take pictures during the performance so I shot this before he came out.  I have to say that I have always enjoyed Mr. Holbrook’s performances but this was wonderful and I now have a new appreciation for Mark Twain.  If you have a chance to see this performance, run, don’t walk, to get your ticket.

I hope to work on my Christmas gifts, finish quilting URR, make a backing for the above quilt, plan a setting for another set of swap blocks, and get caught up on my BOMs.  Opps, I think I am setting myself up for failure.  But if I can get a little done on most of them, I will really be happy.

And another thing that makes me happy is visiting Judy’s blog at Patchwork Times and seeing what other quilters are making.

Design Wall 10/3/11

This is my design wall for the first Monday in October 2011.  These blocks are from an internet swap a couple of years ago.  I have had them on the wall a few times with no certain idea of what to do with them.  This week I decided they will be a gift and began the design process in earnest. 

 

First I put the blocks out on the wall and, of course, move them around several times.  Then I decided on the sashing and borders.  Originally I planned to have the sashing, which is also the second border, be just that fabric.  However, when I put it on the wall it looked way too busy.  Using the cornerstones, made from the first border fabric, calmed down the already busy center.

I have the center rows sewn together, not an easy feat since several of the blocks were poorly made, and am ready to sew the first border. 

All this sewing will have to wait.  I have a new WW meeting to lead on Monday and two on Tuesday and since I have to travel a little over 100 each day I will probably only be up to feeding the animals when I get home.

 

Speaking of animals, we seem to have a new one here.

Meet our newest member (?).  We found her a little over a week ago, wandering the streets in downtown.  We have placed ads in the newspaper and on the radio and visited the two vets, attempting to find where she has come from.  The plan is that if no one has claimed her by Tuesday, she will become part of our family.  We have not named her yet, that would mean she was staying and we don’t know about that, yet.

 

Here she is with Abby.  We figure she is about 6 months old but we will know for sure when we take her to the vet for a check up and shots next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is finished.  And I got it done before the end of September.  I really like the scrappy binding and it almost finished that 30s fabric.

 

 

I did get the URR on the frame.  The backing is a batik fat back I bought at MQX in 2008.  It has been sitting around, waiting for a quilt to come around that fit it and finally it did.  I can’t show it yet since it is all rolled up on the pole, but will later. 

 

Now, if I could just come up with a plan for the quilting.

 

 

 

 

 

And now, one last picture.  This is for people who think we have no Fall color in the South.  This is a maple tree that is just beginning to turn.

This poor thing was cut down a few years ago and this is what has grown out of the stump.  It is about 15’ tall now but has about 7 small trunks.  I don’t know how this effects it’s growth but it makes a very pretty sight in our very green yard.

And now it is time to pour yourself another cup of coffee or tea and hop on over to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are up to.

Back to Quilting

It is hard to believe that a week ago we were buzzing down the highway, working our way home. Most of this week has been catching up and napping but finally by Friday I was able to begin to get back in the groove. Friday I spent the morning doing some cleaning up in the studio so I could begin working on a couple of UFOs and some swap blocks. And Friday afternoon we traveled to Montgomery, AL, where I attended a leader’s meeting for Weight Watchers. Yes, I said Leader’s Meeting. I was asked if I would be interested in becoming a leader so I went to a training meeting to see if I was: I still don’t know if I am or not.



Saturday DH was off judging a Jr. Miss pageant so I spent part of the day cleaning the pool and swimming and the rest in the studio. I did spend some time redesigning the layout for these blocks

and then making the additional blocks to complete the picture. After I cut the strips and sewed the first strata, I cut it into 4 blocks and set them together with one of the Thangle blocks to see how they looked.

This morning I completed sewing all the strata and cutting the blocks and got them up on the design wall.

And I even have four of the seven rows sewn together. Yea, me!

While working on the above, I also was embroidering the centers of the swap blocks I started a couple of weeks ago.

I have gotten 5 done: there are 18 color changes in each square so it is taking quite a while to complete each one. But I did put one block together, again to see how it looks.

So, no completions this week but two well on their way and, if I get off this computer, I hope to have Alabama Escargot bound and done soon.